4 Questions to ask before you write your book (for NONFICTION authors)
Nonfiction writers, this one’s for you!
As you think about a book concept.. and before you begin outlining and writing your book.. here are some questions to consider.
These questions (and their answers) will come up again and again throughout the entire book development, writing, marketing and overall publishing process. These key questions should be front of mind as you move forward in developing and eventually writing your outline, proposal and/or manuscript.
They are also key once you get to the point of marketing and promoting your book. If you can get clarity on them now, before or while you develop out the concept for your book, it will serve you (and your readers) well throughout the entire process.
Who am I writing this for?
Knowing the audience for your book before you start is crucial.. so that when you write, outline, and brainstorm content, you can truly write to your ideal reader and serve them with your words.
A book’s audience, especially in nonfiction, is never truly “everyone.” Even if its message can be universally applied, an agent, publisher, bookseller or marketer won’t see it that way. For their business purposes they also have to be clear on who it’s for to be able to categorize it correctly and sell it to the right places.
You’ll be asked again and again throughout the publishing process who your book is for, and who you had in mind when you wrote it. So you need to be crystal clear on who you have in mind for the content of your book and the journey will you bring them on. Then you can write well for the intended audience and they will feel that intentionality when they read your words.
Here are some things to consider when brainstorming your target audience:
What age range are they?
Is the content for one specific gender, or both?
What stage of life are they in?
What books do they enjoy reading?
Who are other people that they follow?
2. What is a problem my target audience is facing? How does my book help my target audience solve that problem?
Once you have in mind who your target audience is, let’s hone in a bit more. Think about a problem that they are facing that is related to your book’s topic and to your own expertise and experience. Then, consider this question:
How will your book’s content, approach, voice, style, etc. help your target audience solve the problem you’ve identified?
If you can identify this early on, you can really serve your readers as much as possible with every word you write. You’ll also be able to better design the arc of your book and the journey you are taking your readers on because now you know your starting point and the place you want to take them by the end of the book.
When you eventually get to marketing and promoting the book, if you are clear on these two questions - what is a problem the reader is facing and how can you help them solve that problem - you’ll be able to better connect through interviews, social media posts, and any way you talk about your book.
It takes the focus off you and turns it to the reader and how you will serve them through the book. It will be easier for them to be drawn to your book because the topic will resonate with them if you get them to think.. “Oh! I need that!”
3. Is this a topic I am passionate enough about, well-versed enough in, and reasonably able to write 40-60,000 words on? And To promote for the next 2-3 years?
These are some important clarifications in the early development stage. When you are considering any topic for your book, you need to be sure that it is something you not only have the experience, education, and resources to execute well.. but also have your own level of personal interest and investment in it to stick with it for the long haul.
If this book gets published, regardless of where and how, you will need to devote time both leading up to and around the launch and also for the next several years. You’ll need to talk about the book and its topic on your social media for at least one year, in your email newsletter, in potential talks or speeches, in interviews and conversations, and more.
Therefore, it’s important to think not just about what you bring to the book’s topic and whether or not you can reasonably execute and write it well and also persevere and stick with it far after its release.
4. What are other books about my chosen topic that already exist in the market? How will this book be different/unique?
Some authors avoid their “competitors” or other books on the topic they want to write on in fear of accidentally plagiarizing or copying material down the road. But you shouldn’t be afraid to research other books.
Though this is definitely something to watch out for, it is important for you to know what your book is up against, what already exists in the market, and how you could potentially differentiate your book from others. And, this is something that agents and publishers will ask and have to do their own research on. They want to see how books on similar topics have performed and resonated (they call these “comps”).
Though we know there is nothing new under the sun, I truly believe there is space for every book because only your book will have your unique experience, perspective, opinion, stories, and background.
So Google other books on the topic and educate yourself on what’s already out there. Any potential agent, publisher or partner certainly will, so familiarize yourself and do your due diligence!
